GREEN BAY, Wis (NBC 26) -- Time is ticking away for you to cast a vote for the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest.
A few of our area businesses made the list of nominees including Fork Farms in Green Bay.
They have been nominated for their Flex Farm - Gen 4.
It's a piece of hydroponic farming technology that controls everything a plant needs to thrive.
The system uses a specific type of LED light, and when it's enclosed the light is re-captured. This way it requires significantly less artificial light to grow the same amount of food.
"The Flex Farm is the most efficient farm on the planet," said Alex Tynk, the President for Fork Farms. "It uses considerably less water, energy and land than any other system of its kind."
The water lives in the bottom reservoirs and a pump circulates the water throughout the panels and feeds the plants.
All you have to do is check the water once a week and plug it in. The light is on a timer.
It is commonly used to grow leafy vegetables and herbs such as lettuce, spinach, kale, basil and mint.
"I think we are the coolest thing made in Wisconsin because this is a way we can address some significant food issues that we have across the entire planet," said Tynk. "There are so many people that are facing food insecurity and there is so much lack of fresh food and quality of fresh food. This is a way to ensure our community is resilient and we can continue to feed the people we care about the most."
The Flex Farm can be used in schools for learning, the healthcare system, and in organizations that target hunger relief.
It costs $4695 and pays itself off in about two years.
Voting for the for the first round of the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin runs through this Sunday. Click here to cast your vote.
